Electric connecting device



A. H. NERO ELECT-RIG CONNECTING DEVICE Filed May 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l O a R R 1 O T mm V 1 MD w mmmm 1 HM 1 1 Hmw l lw I ww l 1 H HMIM H N w 0 I G gw l WWW m J n M 6@ J m n F x m w z 7 z -NWIH I IHHHHHHHHHWMMHH HIHH/HM 2 Q z I f L Dec. 11, 1934.

Dec. 11, 1934. H NERO 1,984,278

ELECTRIC CONNECTING DEVICE Filed May 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR AR VID H. NERO 5 71:1? aJ-ZarneyS WWW Patented Dec. 11, 1934- PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CONNECTING DEVICE Arvid H. Nero, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to The Arrow-Hart & Hegeman Electric Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application May 4, 1

3 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical connectors, more particularly it relates to attachment plug receptacles which are provided with means to support an electric fan or another electrical translating device.

It is often desired to mount electric fans near the ceiling of a room and for this purpose it is common to provide attachment plug receptacles in the walls of the room at various points where fans might be desired. Electric 'fans, as now made, are commonly quite heavy and vibrate considerably while running and therefore must be firmly supported. At the same time it is desirable to support the fan as near to the attachment plug receptacle as possible.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of my invention to make an attachment plug receptacle which is provided with means for satisfactorily and simply supporting an electric fan or other electric device. Another object is to make an attachment plug receptacle of the above type which is firmly connected to the outlet or wall box in which the receptacle is commonly mounted. Another object of my invention is to provide a receptacle of the above type which is securely connected to the bottom portion of the outlet or wall box in which the receptacle is mounted. Other objects and advantages will appear as it is described in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view of an outlet box cover having an attachment plug receptacle formed according to the principles of my invention and mounted therein.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the invention as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the invention as is shown in Figure 1 with the receptacle and a portion of the outlet box shown in mid-section.

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of the clamp used in connection with the receptacle shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation view of a modified form of my invention.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the form of invention shown in Fig. 5 with the section taken on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, an outlet box 10 of conventional form may be mounted by embedding it, as usual, in the wall of a room at any desired point and may have a conventional cover 12 secured thereto in the usual manner. This cover has outer side flanges 13 and a raised central portion 14. This raised central portion is centrally 931, Serial No. 534,975

'apertured as at 15 for the reception of an attachment plug receptacle 16, having the usual contact apertures 18, in which are located metallic contacts (not shown) for engagement with the prongs of an attachment plug. The receptacle 16 may be of any of the number of well-known constructions. The particular construction of the receptacle forms no part of this invention.

The receptacle 16 is supported by a U-shaped yoke 20 which bridges the aperture 15 in the outlet box cover and has out turned end portions .21, 23. The upper end-portion 21 of this yoke lies parallel to the wall and is secured to the outlet box cover by a screw 17 in the customary manner. The lower end 23 of the yoke also lies parallel to the wall and this portion is of relatively great width compared to the upper portion. Preferably this enlarged lower portion has lateral extensions 22 which overlie the edges of the aperture in the outlet box cover and thereby aflford support to the yoke, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the central portion of the lower end 23 of the yoke there is provided a screw threaded bushing 24 for the reception of a screw bolt 26 by which an electric fan F, or other piece of electrical apparatus may be suspended. A face plate may be placed over the attachment plug receptacle and its yoke and over the aperture 15 in the outlet box cover and may be secured to the yoke in any suitable manner.

It is common for the receptacle opening of an outlet to be formed with a flange around it. The flange is usually wider at the ends of the opening as shown at 2'? than at its sides in order that the ends of the receptacle yoke may be screwed thereto. For securing the lower end 23 of the yoke of my invention to the outlet box there is provided a clamp member or bracket 25 as shown in detail in Fig. 4.

Generally speaking the clamp is H-shaped, the ends 25a, of two of the adjacent legs being bent normal to the plane of the clamp, and the space between the legs accommodating the bushing 24, when the clamp is secured in position. To draw the clamp and yoke together and cause them to grip the flanges 27, two screws 28 pass through the yoke and engage with the clamp. As these screws are tightened the clamp member is drawn against the inner side of the flange and the lower portion of the yoke is drawn against the outside of this flange. In order to keep the yoke from slipping sidewise in the aperture, a hole 30 is made in the lower end of the lower portion 23 of the yoke for the reception of a yoke locating screw'Sl. This screw to some extent secures the yoke to the box, but its main function is to prevent sidewise movement of the yoke while the clamp takes care of bracing the yoke to aid in the supporting of any weight that is suspended from the yoke by means of the bolt 26.

In Figures 5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of my invention which is similar to the form just describedin all respects except that the clamp and clamping screws are not used, but instead a bracket 40 is used for firmly attaching the attachment plug receptacle and its strap to the outlet box. This form of the invention is particularly useful with outlet boxes having a threaded stud 42 in the rear thereof.

other and has an aperture formed in it, the metal being extruded around this aperture, as at 44,

during its formation and the aperture then be- .ing screw threaded sothatiit maybe screwed upon the stud 42 in the rear of the outlet box. The'central portion 4 5 of the bracket 40 is turned at right angles to the apertured end- 43, so as to be perpendicular; to the rear of the outlet box when the bracket is screwed on the stud 42. The

lower portion 23 of: the yoke (see Fig. 1), so that the screws 47 take into the holes in the bracket and are tightened and the yoke 20 is drawn towardthe rear of the outlet box and presses against the outlet box cover in the same fashion as in the formof the invention previously described.v l

From, thelforegoing it will be seen thatI have provided an attachment plug receptacle of rugged construction which is adapted to support the weight of an electric fan or other electric translating device in a safe and satisfactory manner by reason of the firm means by which it is secured to an outlet box.

Changes of form within the scope of my invention will occur to those skilled in the art, therefore I do not limit myself to the specific embodiment of my invention as herein shown.

a I claim:

1. An electric receptacle, a yoke carrying said receptacle, in combination with an apertured housing having said yoke secured to it at its front I face, a bracket member secured to and supported The bracket 40 comprises a metal stamping. one end portion 43 of which is larger than the by the rear of i said housing, and screw means for securing said yoke to said bracket, and an internally screw threaded stud onsaid yoke for supporting an electric translating device, and a face plate covering the mouth of said housing. -2. An electric receptacle, a yoke carrying said receptacle, in combination with an apertured housing adapted to receive said receptacle, said yoke having an enlarged end of which portions are adapted to rest on the edge of the housing aperture at spaced points, a bracket member secured to and supported by the rear of said houswith said stud, and screw means connecting said yoke andbracket, and means on said yoke for supporting an electric translating device.

' 'ARVID 7H. NERO. 

